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The Big Earth Data Project

A suite of hands-on activities to engage and inspire students to look at current environmental challenges faced today, funded by the UK Space Agency.

Helping introduce young people to the many applications of satellite data

MEI has developed resources to help your students develop skills in exploring large Earth observation datasets while teaching them about the measurements satellites can take.

 These resources will help students learn about satellite modelling and forecasting. Focused on engaging contexts such as climate change, the effects of humans on Earth, and emergency disaster response.

Three sets of resources will be released throughout the 2024/25 academic year. Each set will have activities designed for Key Stage 3-4 and Key Stage 4-5 students, using Data Science skills to analyse real satellite data. The best part is that all resources will be free for anyone to access.

Atmosphere: The Hole in the Ozone Layer

An introduction to ozone

The atmosphere introduction pack will introduce the data set and some Ozone facts.

Download Introduction Resources Pack

Resource 1: Averages and single variable diagrams

Lesson one will look at seasonal variations in different measurements of the Southern Ozone Hole, using averages, histograms, and box plots.

Download Lesson One Resource Pack

Resource 2: Time series

Lesson two will examine how the Southern Ozone Hole has varied over time, using time series and averages.

Download Lesson Two Resource Pack

Resource 3: Scatter graphs and correlation

Lesson three will explore the correlation between different measurements related to the Southern Ozone Hole using scatter graphs, measures of outliers and correlation.

Download Lesson Three Resource Pack

We value your feedback, if you would like to fill in a feedback form after using the resources it would be much appreciated.

KS3/4 Teacher Feedback Form

Overview and Teacher Note:

Download Overview and Teacher Notes Word

Download Overview and Teacher Notes PDF

Resource 1: Understanding a context to solve a statistical problem/Interpreting averages and measures of variation

Lesson one will introduce the data set and some Ozone facts as well as an introduction to using a Python Notebook to calculate averages and measures of spread.

Download Lesson One PPT

Go to Python Notebook

Resource 2: Diagrams for single variable data

Lesson two examines seasonal variations in different measurements of Southern Ozone Hole, using averages, histograms, box plots, cumulative frequency curves and frequency polygons. . 

Download Lesson Two PPT

Go to Python Notebook

Resource 3: Exploring outliers

Lesson three uses monthly data to explore how the Southern Ozone Hole has varied over time. Students will explore outliers and how we can use other data to decide if they are valid data points or errors.

Download Lesson Three PPT

Go to Python Notebook

Resource 4: Identifying regions in scatter plots

Lesson four will look at bivariate data by comparing the size of the Southern Ozone Hole with other measurements from ground and satellite data. Using scatter graphs, regression lines and correlation coefficients.

Download Lesson Four PPT

Go to Python Notebook

We value your feedback, if you would like to fill in a feedback form after using the resources it would be much appreciated.

A level Teacher Feedback Form

 

Set 2: Coming December 2024

Set 3: Coming March 2025

More about the motivations behind this project

Our key motivations for creating these resources are:

  • For students to recognise maths as a fundamental tool for tackling environmental issues and its societal benefits.
  • To link careers with mathematical skills and learning.
  • To create resources that take aspects of the key stage 3-5 curriculum and present them in an interesting and fun way.

More about where the data has come from

All activities in the Big Earth Data Project use data analysis and data science to answer pertinent questions about Earth Observation. All the activities for the Big Earth Data Project will use real data from Copernicus (European Earth Observation space programme), The European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF), LandSat (NASA Earth Observation Satellites), and other relevant data sources, including models built from data measured by these satellite programmes. 
 
For more information on Copernicus https://www.copernicus.eu/e 

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